The 2018 conference has concluded. We truly appreciate the participation of all attendees, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors and the advisory board members! Your support was essential to the success of the conference! The breakout session presentations are now available here. Please check back for announcements about the 2020 conference.

Combat-wounded Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Johnny “Joey” Jones turned a traumatic, life-changing disability into a personal
mission to improve the lives of all veterans. Now serving as the spokesperson and Chief Operating Officer for the national
nonprofit Boot Campaign, Jones is key to educating the civilian public and corporate America on issues concerning
veterans and their families in a nonpartisan, inspiring way. Part of that role includes advocating for veterans in the media,
regularly appearing as an outspoken, yet insightful military analyst for Fox News’ “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.”
Jones has also been featured on CNN, ABC’s “Nightline,” “CBS Evening News,” “Huckabee,” “Hannity,” “On the Record with
Greta Van Sustren,” “Fox & Friends,” The Real” and regularly appears on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family.” On the big
screen, he appeared in the Academy Award-winning film “Lincoln,” and is billed as a technical advisor for the independent
film “Bad Hurt.”

Known to his friends as “Triple J,” Jones was raised in Dalton, Georgia and enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school.
During his eight years of service, he worked as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (bomb) Technician, deploying to both Iraq
and Afghanistan on three combat tours. During his last deployment to Afghanistan, Jones was responsible for disarming
and destroying more than 80 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and thousands of pounds of other unknown bulk
explosives. It was during that tour on August 6, 2010 when he stepped on and initiated an IED, resulting in the loss of both
of his legs above the knee and severe damage to his right forearm and both wrists. He then spent two grueling years in
recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Determined to make the road to recovery easier for his fellow wounded veterans, Jones started a peer visit program at
Walter Reed, which provided opportunities for others recovering from life-changing injuries to mentor and encourage
newly-injured patients. This led to an unprecedented year-long fellowship on Capitol Hill with the House Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, his contributions resulting in the creation of an annual fellowship and paving the way for other inspiring
Marine wounded warriors.

After his discharge from Walter Reed, Jones enrolled in Georgetown University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in
Liberal Studies. During his time at the university, he was a leader within his student body and co-founded the first veteran
student organization at the school. His time at Georgetown fostered relationships and efforts that are still changing the
lives of veteran students on campus today.

Jones was introduced to the Boot Campaign in 2011 through Joe Nichols, country music artist and Boot Campaign
celebrity ambassador. He quickly realized that his personal goals and objectives were aligned with the charity’s mission to
raise awareness of veterans’ issues, promote patriotism and provide assistance to military families. He joined the nonprofit
first as a speaker and public affairs director, quickly moving into a leading role as the Executive Director of Marketing.
After losing his childhood best friend to PTSD-related suicide in 2012, Jones decided to make veterans’ issues his life’s
work. Throughout his post-service career, he has carefully fostered relationships with key players in politics and the media
in an effort to keep those issues at the forefront of discussion. He’s shared his experiences and insights on the challenges
facing active duty and retired service members as a dinner guest of President Obama in 2012, and later with former
President George W. Bush in 2014. He has also visited with Vice President Biden, as well as multiple cabinet officials and military generals and still enjoys a close personal and working relationship with current Marine Corps leaders even after
retiring from active duty in 2012. That same year, he represented all wounded warriors as the guest of honor at the annual
Commandant of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, an honor reserved for cabinet officials and Marines of utmost distinguished
service.

Jones’ easy rapport with civilians, military leaders and celebrities alike has led to a long list of speaking engagements,
including the Heroes of Military Medicine Awards, Smithsonian Institute, Purdue University, Georgetown University,
Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Hewlett Packard, Benchmark Mortgage and various other public and private gatherings.
Currently he works as the Chief Operating Officer and official spokesperson for the Boot Campaign and the annual Pushups
for Charity campaign. A nationally recognized advocate, Jones has joined forces with organizations such as Marcus
Luttrell’s Team Never Quit, Taya Kyle’s Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground, Randy Couture’s
Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation, The Armed Forces Foundation, Building Homes for Heroes, EOD Warrior Foundation,
Sentinels of Freedom scholarships and Carrick Brain Center. In addition to his long list of engagements, Jones is penning a
memoir detailing his experiences in life and war, focused on overcoming adversity through a positive, proactive outlook.

John Howard is the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health, and the Administrator of the World Trade Center Health
Program in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Howard was first appointed NIOSH Director in 2002 during the George
W. Bush Administration and served in that position until 2008.

In 2009, Dr. Howard worked as a consultant with the US-Afghanistan Health
Initiative. In September of 2009, Dr. Howard was again appointed NIOSH
Director, and was reappointed for a third six-year term in 2015.

Prior to his appointments as NIOSH Director and WTC Health Program
Administrator, Dr. Howard served as Chief of the Division of Occupational
Safety and Health in the State of California’s Labor and Workforce
Development Agency from 1991 through 2002.

Dr. Howard earned a Doctor of Medicine from Loyola University of Chicago;
a Master of Public Health from the Harvard University School of Public
Health; a Doctor of Law from the University of California at Los Angeles;
and a Master of Law in Administrative Law and Economic Regulation, and a
Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, both
degrees from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Howard is board-certified in internal medicine and occupational
medicine. He is admitted to the practice of medicine and law in the State of
California and in the District of Columbia, and he is a member U.S.
Supreme Court bar. He has written numerous articles on occupational
health, policy and law.

Eric Harbin, Acting Regional Administrator Region IV, OSHA

Eric has over 20 years with the Agency, including experience in Area, Regional and National Offices. For the last 6 months, Eric has served as the Acting Regional Administrator in Dallas. For the past year and a half he was and actually is the Regional Administrator for OSHA in Seattle. Prior to Seattle, Eric served as the Deputy Regional Administrator in Dallas for 5 years, and during his tenure there also served as Acting Regional Administrator for the Dallas Region multiple times as well as the Director of the Whistleblower Program in the National Office. He also served as the Director of the Office of Construction Services in the Directorate of Construction for two years. During this time, the OSHA crane standard was issued as well as OSHA’s revised requirements for residential fall protection were published. Eric was the Area Director for the OSHA offices in Austin and San Antonio for four and one-half years, giving him front line experience working with the construction industry and construction workers in central Texas. Before moving to Austin, Eric was a supervisor in the Baton Rouge office and a Compliance Safety & Health Officer in Birmingham.

Erik Milito is the Vice President of Upstream and Industry Operations for the American Petroleum Institute (API), which is the national trade association representing more than 600 companies involved in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including exploration production, refining and transportation. Mr. Milito’s work covers regulatory and legislative matters related to domestic exploration and production, including access to domestic oil and natural gas resources both onshore and offshore. Prior to his current position, Mr. Milito served as managing counsel covering a host of legal issues, including oil and gas leasing, royalty, environmental, fuels, transportation, safety, and civil justice reform.

Prior to joining API, Mr. Milito served for over four years on active duty in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate, and an additional four years in the U.S. Army Reserve, resigning at the rank of Major. Mr. Milito was assigned to active duty tours in Hawaii, Korea and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and he served as a prosecutor, defense attorney and command advisor. Mr. Milito was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medals during his military tenure. After leaving the Army, Mr. Milito worked as a career attorney with the Solicitor’s Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior. While at Interior, Mr. Milito worked on oil and natural gas law, employment law, and disability access issues.

Mr. Milito attended the University of Notre Dame on an R.O.T.C. scholarship, and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Mr. Milito then received his juris doctor from Marquette University Law School, where he was a member of the law review.

David Teater, President and Founder of FocusDriven LLC

David Teater of Spring Lake, Michigan, is a recognized national leader on the issue of distracted driving. He is President and Founder of FocusDriven LLC, a firm dedicated to reducing motor vehicle crashes that result from driver distraction.

Mr. Teater’s 30-year business career has included serving as CEO of several private companies including 20 years at an automotive supplier. In 2009 he joined the National Safety Council after its call for a nationwide ban on cell phone driving where he led the Council’s distracted driving initiative for over six years. Mr. Teater is a frequent speaker on the topic of Distracted Driving and has appeared before several state legislatures and testified before the US Congress.

Kola Fagbayi, Chief Operating Officer, BP Lower 48

Kola Fagbayi joined the BP L48 team as Vice President, Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), and Engineering Technical Authority in December 2016.

Previous to joining BP, Kola worked for Royal Dutch Shell plc, having held a series of technical and leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility. Roles he held include Operations Manager, Process Safety Manager, as well as a variety of engineering roles. Earlier in his career he led the transition team on a complicated $1.8 billion asset divestment package of the Shell South Texas asset, and was once the lead corrosion and facilities engineer for that asset for three years.

He holds a B.S. in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Corrosion Science and Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in England, and an MBA from Rice University.

Dr. Andy Hines is Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of the University of Houston’s Graduate Program in Foresight, bringing together the experience he earned as an organizational, consulting, and academic futurist. He is also speaking, workshopping, and consulting through his firm Hinesight.

Before that, he was Managing Director of Social Technologies/Innovaro, and served as an Adjunct Professor with the university since 2004. He was a partner with Coates & Jarratt, Inc., a think tank and consulting firm that specialized in the study of the future. He was also Futurist & Senior Ideation Leader at Dow Chemical with a mission of using futures tools and knowledge to turn ideas into new business opportunities. Prior to that, he established and ran the Global Trends Program for the Kellogg Company.

Hines is motivated by a professional hunger to make foresight practical and useful, and he believes that foresight can help deliver the insight that is so needed in today’s organizations and the world. His goal, he says, is to infect as many change agents as possible with this message. Thus, he has honed a skill set designed to make foresight more actionable in organizations. He completed his dissertation on the topic of “The Role of an Organizational Futurist in Integrating Foresight into Organizations” in 2012.

In this pursuit, In this pursuit, he has authored five books: Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), which won the Association of Professional Futurists Most Significant Futures Works Award in 2014; ConsumerShift: How Changing Values Are Reshaping the Consumer Landscape (No Limits Publishing, 2011); Thinking About the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight (Social Technologies, 2007); 2025: Science and Technology Reshapes US and Global Society (Oak Hill, 1997); and Managing Your Future as an Association (ASAE, 1994) and the just-released Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education. He has also authored dozens of articles, speeches, and workshops, including the 2003 Emerald Literati Awards' Outstanding Paper accolade for best article published in Foresight for “An Audit for Organizational Futurists” and the 2008 award for “Scenarios: The State of the Art.” He has appeared on several radio and television programs, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, PBS Houston, KRIV-26 News, and the CBS “Early Show.” He also co-founded and is former Chair of the Association of Professional Futurists.

Senior Director, Research and Safety Management Solutions
National Safety Council

Jonathan D. Thomas Senior Director, Research and Safety Management Solutions, National Safety Council

Jonathan Thomas leads the National Safety Council group that helps organizations measure, assess, benchmark, and improve their safety management systems and safety culture. For 17 years, he has developed or directed all phases of the Council’s high value Workplace consulting services. These activities include employee safety perception survey services, safety management system assessments and other workplace safety and health related consulting.

Jonathan also directs the NSC research and statistics technical staff who develop, conduct and report on a wide variety of research and statistical projects, initiatives and services. His team monitors and reports on the trends in preventable injuries and deaths through Injury Facts at injuryfact.nsc.org.

From 1992-2000, Jonathan designed, conducted and managed a variety of psychiatric/medical research projects for the Hines Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center and the Midwest Center for Health Services and Policy Research of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jonathan is associate editor of the Journal Safety Research and oversees content development for the quarterly, peer-reviewed publication.

With a master’s degree in applied social psychology, Jonathan has completed course work and qualifying exams (ABD) for his doctoral program at Loyola University of Chicago.

Jonathan is also an adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he teaches advanced research methods, statistics, and applied methods in the department of psychology.